by the itev. j. e. tenis0n-w00ds, f.g.s., f.l.s. 87 



Doubtful Species. 



Before leaving the Equisetacese, I note the occurrence in the 

 Rosewood ( Rockhampton) beds of certain fragmentary impres- 

 sions, which I regard as belonging to the stems of Equisetum or 

 Calamites. They are finely ribbed stems with transverse partitions, 

 often three inches in width. The only form to which I can 

 compare them is Equisetum mo ugeotti, Brong. (See Schimp. vol. i., 

 p. 278, and Atlas pi. 12, figs 1, 2, 3 and 4) which is a Trias 

 fossil, from the Vosges (Gres bigarree). The ribs of our fossil are 

 close, fine, about 20 to an inch. I have seen no specimens perfect 

 enough to show a good series of the partitions, so cannot say 

 whether they were close or distant, neither are there any buds 

 visible. To distinguish it I name it as follows : 



Equisetum? latum, pi. 2, fig 1. Broad stems two to three 

 inches wide with numerous small close ribs. Common on sandstone 

 or fine conglomerate, Rosewood (Rockhampton). 



Filices or Ferns. 



Ferns are herbaceous plants with a creeping, climbing, or erect 

 stem, consisting of a subterranean rhizome,stem, and leafy expansions 

 curled upon themselves. Fructification on the under surface or 

 margin of the frond, minuce, densely clustered in spore cases 

 (sporanges) full of microscopic doubly coated spores, destitute of 

 an embryo, but capable of developing a small leafy expansion. 

 Prothallus bearing the essential organs of reproduction. 



I shall pass over other details for which any ordinary botanical 

 handbook may be consulted, to come at once to the subdivisions 

 which are adopted for the fossil species. I will merely observe 

 now that as the fructification is rarely preserved, and generally 

 only leaves and portions of leaves, two characters become most 

 important. One is the form of the nerves or venation of the 

 leaves ; the other is its mode of attachment to the rachis. The 

 following general classification of Ettingshausen is the one followed 

 here, as it is adopted by Schimper who points out that it is 

 merely a development of that proposed by Ad. Brongniart in 



